Clutch



April 22, 1924..

' AfJ. DETLAFF CLUTCH 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug.

Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES.

l1,491,201 PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY J. DETLAFF, or memoir, MICHIGAN;

CLUTCH.

Appueatibn med August a1, 1921. serial no. 497,103.

that type of clutch used in the transmission of power from the power plant of an automobile or similar vehicle to the rear axle assembly'or driven parts of the automobile,

The primary object of my invention is to provide a clutch which has an outer drum integral with the Hy wheel or transmission wheel, thus obviating the necessity of making a fly wheel and drum of separate parts connected together. y

Another object of my invention is to provide a multiple disk friction clutch whereina series of disks are normally maintained in frictional engagement with another series of disks andthe firsty series of disks is arranged to be shifted relative to the second series of disks by axial movementinwardly from the rear end of the clutch, that is, the movement being in the direction of the drive elementof the clutch instead, of in the directionof the drivenv element thereof.

A further object o fV my invention is to provide a clutch, wherein friction disks are maintained in frictional engagement by Springs, with spring abutments that` may be interchanged to permit of a greater or lesser number of friction disks being used in con,-`

nection, with the` clutch, and the spring abutments may also be employedto compensate for any inequalities in the tension of the springs forming part of the clutch.

A still further object of this invention is t0 provide a multiple disk clutch` with pri.- mary` andl secondary disks, the primary disks being Yhoused within a `drum integral with a iy wheel, and` the secondary disks being y sandwiched ,between the primary disks and. slidable on .the innendrum. The innerdruni is constructed so that the teeth or means which establishes'rotative continuitybetween the innerdrum and the ,secondary Vdisks serve as an end abutment for all ,ofthe disks when in frictional driving relation., N, .A n* e `A still further object of my invention is to provide amultiple disk clutch wherein the parts are constructed with a view of reducing the cost of ,manufacture and at ther same time retain those features by which durability, accessibility and ease of assembling are secured. With such ends in view my invention resides in the construction to vbe hereinafter described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein-' .Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a clutch in accordance with my invention;

' yF ig. 2 is across sectional view taken on the lineA II-II of Fig. l;

Fig, 3 is a viewyof the outer end of the innery drum of rthe clutch, I i

Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe fentire clutch.

Fig. -5 shows views in elevation of interchangeable abutment members of different lengths. y

In describing my invention by aid of the views above referred to, I desire to point out that the same are intended as merely illustrative of the clutch which lhas been put into practice, and I do not care to confine my `invention to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, other than defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, the reference numeral l` denotes a iy wheel which is ordinarily connected, as ,at 2 to the end portion 3 of an engine driven crank shaft (not shown). The fly wheel l may have its periphery provided with teethy or a gear 4 so that said fly wheei may be temporarily driven by a conventional form `of starting mechanism.

The rear face ofthe fly wheel 1 is provided with an outer drum 5 and the inner wall of said drum is formed with longitudinal geardike teeth 6, keys, ribs or the like constituting means for establishingrotative continuity between the. outer drum` and a plurality of parallel peripherally notched friction disks `slidablev in the outerldrum. said disks being somewhat in the formkof rings spacedy apart, and rhereinafter referred to as primaryjdisksg Centrally of `the iy wheel l is an anti frictional bearing`8 supporting the vreduced end 94 of ,a driven shaft l0 which is arranged axially of the iy wheel l and the outer drum p5. Keyed or otherwise mounted on theforward end of the driven shaft 10, so

as to' naar@ threwaaas the. hub 11 .ef an innert drum 121,' hsaid inner drum having the' teeth 13 and adapted to slide on said teeth.

The secondary disks are sandwiched between the primary disks and between allof the disks are compressible friction members 15, made of leather, canvas or any suitable material. The friction disks and the friction members may all be loosely assembled between the outer and inner drums and between a stationary end plate 17 and a movable end plate 18. The stationaryy end plate -17 is in the form of a ring or annulus on the rear end of the inner drum 12, and it is -held bytooth abutments 16. In the formation of the teeth 13, ,said teeth are ground or liattened, as at 1,9, to a` point adjacent the rear end of the inner drum, and the remaining material on the rear ends of the teeth 13 will serve as abutments for the stationary end plate 17. i This is best shown,

in Fig. 4, where the flattened teeth 13 'afford substantial bearing surfaces for the slidable secondary disks, and at the same time provide an end abutment for the; stationary end plate 17. I

The periphery of the drum 12 has a series of grooves 20 and the inner edges of the'secondary disks 14 have a series of notches 21l registering with the grooves 20, saidV notches and grooves providing clearance for rods 22 having the forward ends thereof fixed to inwardly projecting lugs or portions of the movable end plate 18, such lugs-or portions projecting into the grooves 20. I.

The outer ends of the rods 22 extend through notches in the inner edge ofthe stationary end plate 17 and are connected,as at 22a to an adjustable head or member23 slidable on the driven shaft 10. Any suitable means maybe employed for shifting the adj ustable member 23 towards the inner drum 12, so as to release the friction disks 7 and 14 and. the members 15 relative to one another and permit of the fly wheel-1 and its outer drum 5 revolving independently of the inner drum 12 and the driven shaft 10.

Holding the friction disks and friction members normally in drivingrelationarea plurality of springs24within the drum 12. The rear convolutions of the springs 24-are centered about bosses 25 oftheadjustable member 23 andthe forwardconvolutions of the springs are centered oninterchangeable spring abutments or `compensating members 26 attached tothe forward endsofethe inner. drum. As .pointedgout in` ythe Ybeginning* these spring abutments may be; of. kvarious lengths to permit. ofrthe-numberof friction disks being increasederV decreasedalso .to

4relative to each other.v Asshowing a conventional arrangement of the friction meinbers 15 relative to the disks, said friction members have been secured by rivets or other fastening means to the primary disks and vsaid friction members contact with both` faces ofthe primary' disks and with the inner faces 'of the end plates 17 and 18.

From the foregoing -it vwill be observed that the inner drum l12, the springs 24, the end plates 17 and 18, the secondary'disks 14, connecting rods 22, and theV adjustable member 23 rotate with the driven shaft 10, and any suitable provision may be made for connecting operating mechanism to theadjustable member 23.

1.' In a multiple disk friction clutchl wherein aiplurality of disks -are adapted to establish a driving relation between -a drive` shaft and a driven shaft, innerand outer drums between which said disks are mounted, springs inthe inner drum maintaining the disks normally in frictional contact, and interchangeable `abutment members fory said springs. v i

2. multiple disk clutchcomprising inner' and outer drums, friction disks between said drums, a stationaryend plate on the rear end of the inner drum, a movable end plate on the forward end of the inner drum,

an adjustable member, and springs and inf terchangeable abutments in said inner drum cooperating with said adjustable member and saidmovable end plate in maintaining said friction disks in driving relation, said adjustable member being movable toward said inner drum 'to release the driving relation of said disks. .o

3.y A clutch as in claim 2, characterized by said inner drum `being longitudinally grooved, and krods in said drum grooves between said inner drum and said disks connecting said adjustable member to saidmovable end plate. Y

4. A multiple disk friction clutch wherein-disks are adapted to establish a driving relationv between a drive shaftand a driven shaft, andwherein the disks are normally in driving relation :-springs, maintaining the drivingv relationY of said disks, and interchangeable abutments for said springspermitting ofthe number of disks beingei'ther increased o r decreased. 1

' 5. In a "multiple disk friction clutchy wherein primary and secondarydisks are shifted to control the action of said disks.

6. A clutch as called for in claim 5, wherein some of the teeth on said drum are cut away, and rods in the cut away portions of said drum teeth adapted for shifting one 0f t said end plates.

7. A clutch comprising inner and outer drums, said drums having gear-like teeth, primary and secondary disks between said drums, said disks having gear-like teeth meshing with the teeth of said drums to establish a driving relation between drive and driven shafts to which said drums are connected, a stationary end plate on said inner drum, a movable end plate on said inner drum, rods on said inner drum connected to said movable end plate and extending through said stationary end plate, an adjustable member connected to said rods, springs in said inner drum bearing against said adjustable member maintaining said disks in driving relation, and abutments between said springs and said inner drum, said abutments being exchangeable for the purpose of either increasing or decreasing the tension of said springs, said means, said adr justable member, rods, end plates and secondary disks being rotatable with the driven shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY J DETLAFF. Witnesses:

LEWIS E. FLANDERS, ANNA M. Donk. 

